Turkeys through the decades

By By AUBREY COHEN

on November 21, 2012 4:56 PM

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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President Barack Obama issued the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardon on Wednesday, with the help of daughters Malia, right, and Sasha. This seemed like a good occasion to take a look back at humanity's relationship with turkeys. less

President Barack Obama issued the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardon on Wednesday, with the help of daughters Malia, right, and Sasha. This seemed like a good occasion to take a look back at humanity's ... more

Turkeys can be positively fetching, as shown in this depiction, circa 1750. Benjamin Franklin famously disliked the choice of the eagle as our national bird, writing to his daughter that the eagle "is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly." Noting that the eagle on one seal looked more like a turkey to him, Franklin wrote: "(T)he Turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on." less

Turkeys can be positively fetching, as shown in this depiction, circa 1750. Benjamin Franklin famously disliked the choice of the eagle as our national bird, writing to his daughter that the eagle "is a bird of ... more

Photo: Hulton Archive, Getty Images

Turkeys can be positively fetching, as shown in this depiction,... Photo-3774263.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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A turkey, cockerel and chicken are featured on a New Year's greetings card, circa 1880.

A turkey, cockerel and chicken are featured on a New Year's greetings card, circa 1880.

Photo: Hulton Archive, Getty Images

A turkey, cockerel and chicken are featured on a New Year's... Photo-3774250.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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A prosperous looking family takes a closer look at a particularly plump turkey at a farm in this image dated Dec. 1, 1871.

A prosperous looking family takes a closer look at a particularly plump turkey at a farm in this image dated Dec. 1, 1871.

Photo: Hulton Archive, Getty Images

A prosperous looking family takes a closer look at a particularly... Photo-3774261.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

While not the national bird, turkeys continued to have a role in political discussion. This illustration shows lame-duck President William Howard Taft holding a large carving knife, sitting at a long table around which are chairs labeled with the states of the United States; three men are sitting in chairs labeled "Utah," "Idaho" and "Vermont." There is a tiny turkey on a large platter on the table, and a sign on the wall states "Republican Family Reunion." Taft finished third behind Democrat Woodrow Wilson and Progressive Theodore Roosevelt in the 1912 presidential election, winning only Vermont and Utah. It's not clear why Idaho, which went for Wilson, is at the table. less

While not the national bird, turkeys continued to have a role in political discussion. This illustration shows lame-duck President William Howard Taft holding a large carving knife, sitting at a long table ... more

Photo: Samuel Ehrhart/Keppler & Schwarzmann (Library Of Congress)

While not the national bird, turkeys continued to have a role in... Photo-3774329.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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We're not sure what's going on here. The original caption just says: "White House turkey," with the date, Nov. 20, 1920.

We're not sure what's going on here. The original caption just says: "White House turkey," with the date, Nov. 20, 1920.

Photo: National Photo Company Collection (Library Of Congress)

We're not sure what's going on here. The original caption... Photo-3774327.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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A Thanksgiving turkey arrives at the White House bearing the name of President Warren G. Harding on the crate in 1921. It was a gift from H.W. Mason of Crystal Springs, Miss. Turkey gifts to the president on Thanksgiving go way back. The tradition of pardoning the birds is more recent. less

A Thanksgiving turkey arrives at the White House bearing the name of President Warren G. Harding on the crate in 1921. It was a gift from H.W. Mason of Crystal Springs, Miss. Turkey gifts to the president on ... more

Photo: National Photo Company Collection (Library Of Congress)

A Thanksgiving turkey arrives at the White House bearing the name... Photo-3774330.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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A girl feeds a turkey on a farm in January 1923.

A girl feeds a turkey on a farm in January 1923.

Photo: Topical Press Agency, Getty Images

A girl feeds a turkey on a farm in January 1923. Photo-3774259.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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A city bar in London at Christmas with plucked turkeys hanging overhead on Dec. 1, 1923.

A city bar in London at Christmas with plucked turkeys hanging overhead on Dec. 1, 1923.

Photo: Topical Press Agency, Getty Images

A city bar in London at Christmas with plucked turkeys hanging... Photo-3774244.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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A woman towel-dries a turkey in December 1928 at Mrs. Elce's farm at Nerdigate, near Holmwood in Dorking, Surrey, England.

A woman towel-dries a turkey in December 1928 at Mrs. Elce's farm at Nerdigate, near Holmwood in Dorking, Surrey, England.

Photo: Fox Photos, Getty Images

A woman towel-dries a turkey in December 1928 at Mrs. Elce's... Photo-3774247.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

A turkey is presented to President Richard Nixon on Nov. 18, 1969. Photo-3774328.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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Julie Hacker holds an RCA-developed microwave oven electron tube on March 23, 1971, above a 16-pound turkey that was microwave cooked in 70 minutes, down from four hours in a conventional oven. While microwaves have become ubiquitous, most people still use regular ovens for their turkeys. less

Julie Hacker holds an RCA-developed microwave oven electron tube on March 23, 1971, above a 16-pound turkey that was microwave cooked in 70 minutes, down from four hours in a conventional oven. While microwaves ... more

President George H.W. Bush pardons the Thanksgiving turkey on Nov. 25, 1991.

President George H.W. Bush pardons the Thanksgiving turkey on Nov. 25, 1991.

Photo: George Bush Presidential Library And Museum

President George H.W. Bush pardons the Thanksgiving turkey on Nov.... Photo-3774332.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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President Bill Clinton looks on as Andy Rutledge, left, son of National Turkey Federation Chairman Ken Rutledge, right, attempts to put turkey "Thomas Jefferson" on a table during presentation ceremonies at the White House on Nov. 22, 1995. less

President Bill Clinton looks on as Andy Rutledge, left, son of National Turkey Federation Chairman Ken Rutledge, right, attempts to put turkey "Thomas Jefferson" on a table during presentation ceremonies at ... more

First Sergeant Victor Franco, left, of Puerto Rico, volunteers his time and his father's recipe to prepare turkeys which will be served to soldiers for Thanksgiving dinner at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, Nov. 22, 2000. less

First Sergeant Victor Franco, left, of Puerto Rico, volunteers his time and his father's recipe to prepare turkeys which will be served to soldiers for Thanksgiving dinner at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, Nov. 22, ... more

Long gone, of course, are the days of turkeys hanging in rows on hooks. These days, most of us get our turkeys this way. Here, meat wrapper Rick Shapiro restocks and arranges turkeys Nov. 26, 2002 at a Jewel-Osco food store in Des Plaines, Ill. less

Long gone, of course, are the days of turkeys hanging in rows on hooks. These days, most of us get our turkeys this way. Here, meat wrapper Rick Shapiro restocks and arranges turkeys Nov. 26, 2002 at a ... more

Photo: Tim Boyle, Getty Images

Long gone, of course, are the days of turkeys hanging in rows on... Photo-3774291.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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And once we get our turkeys home, we can get advice from Butterball Turkey Talk-Line specialists such as Jan Allen, left, shown answering questions on Nov. 24, 2003 in Downers Grove, Ill.

And once we get our turkeys home, we can get advice from Butterball Turkey Talk-Line specialists such as Jan Allen, left, shown answering questions on Nov. 24, 2003 in Downers Grove, Ill.

Photo: Tim Boyle, Getty Images

And once we get our turkeys home, we can get advice from Butterball... Photo-3774293.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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One easy piece of advice is to make sure you really know what you're doing if you want to deep-fry a turkey. Here, John Wojtasik removes a turkey from hot peanut oil on Nov. 27, 2003, at Markham Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. less

One easy piece of advice is to make sure you really know what you're doing if you want to deep-fry a turkey. Here, John Wojtasik removes a turkey from hot peanut oil on Nov. 27, 2003, at Markham Park in Fort ... more

Photo: ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP/Getty Images

One easy piece of advice is to make sure you really know what... Photo-3774299.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

Marshall Beatty prepares to cut a turkey with a band saw during Thanksgiving preparations at the Bowery Mission on Nov. 23, 2005 in New York.

Marshall Beatty prepares to cut a turkey with a band saw during Thanksgiving preparations at the Bowery Mission on Nov. 23, 2005 in New York.

Photo: STAN HONDA, AFP/Getty Images

Marshall Beatty prepares to cut a turkey with a band saw during... Photo-3774306.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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First-class passengers settle in next to crates containing turkeys "May" and "Flower" on Nov. 20, 2007, after President George W. Bush pardoned the birds. They flew from Dulles
International Airport, in Fairfax, Va., to Disney World, in Orlando, Fla., to be honorary grand marshals at the theme park's Thanksgiving Day parade. less

First-class passengers settle in next to crates containing turkeys "May" and "Flower" on Nov. 20, 2007, after President George W. Bush pardoned the birds. They flew from Dulles
International Airport, in ... more

A woman looks at a turkey made of silver on display at a store ahead of Thanksgiving celebrations in New York on Nov. 20, 2007.

A woman looks at a turkey made of silver on display at a store ahead of Thanksgiving celebrations in New York on Nov. 20, 2007.

Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND, AFP/Getty Images

A woman looks at a turkey made of silver on display at a store... Photo-3774315.52782 - StamfordAdvocate

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An activist from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals holds a sign and a box of Tofurkey in front of the White House on Nov. 23, 2010, in Washington, D.C. That cause seems to be catching on about as well as microwaving the traditional Thanksgiving bird. less

An activist from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals holds a sign and a box of Tofurkey in front of the White House on Nov. 23, 2010, in Washington, D.C. That cause seems to be catching on about as well ... more

Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM, AFP/Getty Images

An activist from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals holds... Photo-3774318.52782 - StamfordAdvocate